Joshi Takes on Dual Role in Education Ministry
Vineet Joshi, currently serving as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy. This appointment follows the superannuation of Sanjay Kumar, who held the school education secretary position since 2022.
The official order was issued on June 30 by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, according to a government notification.
Career Background and Previous Roles
Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education in 2025. Prior to this, he served as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA). He also oversaw the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) and the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA).
His educational qualifications include a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
Impact on Education Administration
With this additional charge, Joshi now oversees both higher education and school education portfolios, consolidating leadership in the Ministry of Education. This move is expected to streamline coordination between the two departments, particularly in aligning curriculum standards and examination reforms. The transition comes at a time when the National Education Policy 2020 implementation is underway across school and higher education sectors.
